We are the first and only SSI Dive Shop to offer "Classified Diving" in New England!

What is Classified Diving?

The SSI Classified Diving program provides adaptive training to students with limited mobility and/or sensory disorders, allowing them to dive with one or more Classified Dive Buddies, or a Classified Dive Professional. Through this program, individuals with disabilities or limited mobility who are medically cleared by a physician can experience the thrill of scuba diving, first in a pool/confined water environment, then potentially in the open water.

The student-centered SSI Classified Diving program is designed specifically for individuals who may not be able to meet some of the autonomous diver skill requirements for an SSI Open Water Diver certification. SSI Classified Diving Instructors know how to adapt the SSI Open Water Diver program and training materials to meet their students' specific needs. All Classified Diving students still complete every skill evaluation from the Open Water Diver program; however, based on their capabilities, particular techniques may change, and assistance is permitted to perform the skills.

Classified Diver

There are 3 levels of programs, during the training you will be required to complete a set of basic diving skills. At the end of your training, you will be giving a Certification for your level. All courses must be completed with either a Classified Dive Buddy or a Classified DIve Professional.

*Please note that the skills listed below are not the only skills required to complete the course but rather a guideline for determining their ability in the water and assigning a classification level.

Level 1

Students must be able to perform these skills by the end of the course to receive a Level 1 Certification:

• Exit and enter the water
• Removal of BCD and equipment at the surface
• Removal and replacement of weights at the surface
• Be able to manage buoyancy in the BCD

 Level 2

Students must be able to perform these skills by the end of the course to receive a Level 2 Certification:

• Emergency swimming ascent
• Emergency buoyancy ascent
• Air Sharing
• Disconnecting and reconnecting the inflator hose
• Be able to deploy a Surface Maker Bouy

Level 3

Students must be able to perform these skills by the end of the course to receive a Level 3 Certification:

• Controlled descents
• Mask clearing
• Mask removal and replacement
• Regulator retrieval

*Once again the skills listed are not the only skills required to get the certification.

Classified Dive Buddy

This program is designed to train Divers to assist a Classified Diver. The Dive Buddy will undergo special training on how to assist those who need help diving.

After the course is completed you will be certified to dive with any level of Classified Diver.

The Prerequisite is at least 18 years of age and has a diver stress and rescue certification or equivalent.

What do the levels mean?

There are 3 Classified Diver Levels based on the diver’s abilities:

• Level 1 – Must dive with a certified Classified Dive Buddy
• Level 2 – Must dive with two (2) certified Classified Dive Buddies
• Level 3 – Must dive with two (2) certified Classified Dive Buddies and one (1) Classified Dive Professional

The Classified Dive Buddy certification qualifies an SSI Stress & Rescue diver or higher to dive with a certified Classified Diver level 1, 2, and 3.